My Dearest Star Wars, How do I begin to share in words just what you mean to me? Let me first remind you of our tender beginnings. This picture was a taken on Halloween the year The Empire Strikes Back came out. I saw you almost every week that summer and you changed my life……

Ella started her first year of preschool this past August. She is attending the CSUN LAB school.

The facility is attached to the university and is a educational teaching school. She is in the half day PM class. The schools philosophy is play based with a focus on teaching and nurturing the’whole child.’

Ella is learning with traditional and special needs classmates. The CHIME program and its teachers are wonderfuly skilled, compassionate educators and we feel very lucky she gets this learning experience.

She is flourishing , having the routine of school 4 days a week. Ella has even made a new best friend *Ellie, the little blonde girl next to her in the class photo*.

Every day she comes home with new songs, art work, stories and requested play dates. Her teachers would tell you that while she was cautious her first few days at school, she since has been a happy friend and is a thoughtful observer and learner .

Along with joining the schools booster club , as a bonus, I have been asked to be the Room Mom for her class, which I am totally excited about!

We are so grateful that her school is close to Mark and Academic and also grateful to her Nana and Grandpa who are helping in educating another generation of family.